Smith: Texans bring up all the old questions with a humbling defeat

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) scrambles out of the pocket against the Houston Texans during the second quarter of an NFL game at NRG Stadium Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Houston.

Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez/Staff photographer

No wonder some of y'all still refused to believe in these Texans.

Sunday at eerie NRG Stadium wasn't 0-3 bad. But it was the painful reminder we knew was likely to arrive before this season was complete.

The offensive line still has serious issues.

The passing game inexplicably comes and goes.

The running attack is still erratic, despite entering Week 14 among the league's best.

The defense had been solid, overall. But why did Baker Mayfield torch the secondary so easily during the second half last week? And remember Week 4, when Andrew Luck threw for 464 yards and four TDs at Indianapolis?

Luck shredded 'em again Sunday at NRG. It ended up as 24-21 Indianapolis, as the Colts kept their season alive.

The Texans' (9-4) franchise-record nine-game winning streak is kaput. Now we get to spend the next six days re-analyzing all the old issues that were just resting beneath the surface.

Deshaun Watson is still holding on to the ball too long. Lamar Miller disappeared on a day the Texans were supposed to be fighting for a first-round bye. Bill O'Brien's team led 7-0, then allowed Indy to rack up 275 yards and take a 17-7 lead by halftime.

Even when the Texans pulled within 17-14 after a lengthy TD drive to open the third quarter, Luck torched the defense again.

The Texans propelled themselves to the top of the AFC South during their streak.

With Luck in town, they again looked like a team that would be happy just to make the playoffs.

Brian T. Smith is a sports columnist for the Houston Chronicle. He has won multiple Associated Press Sports Editors awards and been honored by numerous journalism organizations. Smith was a Houston Texans beat writer for the Chronicle from 2013-15 and an Astros beat writer from 2012-13. The New Orleans-area native previously covered the NBA's Utah Jazz (The Salt Lake Tribune) and Portland Trail Blazers (The Columbian), among other beats. He is the author of the book Liftoff, which documented the Astros' rebuild and 2017 World Series championship.